Orange Coast College

Football: Pirates pull out triple-OT win over Santa Ana

Saturday, October 10, 2009

COSTA MESA -- Next year's 60th meeting between Orange Coast and Santa Ana's football programs will have a lot to live up to following Saturday's 59th contest.

Led by a never-ending dose of running back Ray Holley and a relentless defense, the Pirates rallied to top the visiting Dons 33-27 in triple-overtime in front of an energetic crowd of 2,000 at LeBard Stadium.

Holley, the leading rusher in the SCFA, overcame a rough start and finished with 191 yards and three touchdowns on 41 carries, putting the sophomore over 1,000 for the season (1,006).

The Pirates' defense, led by Jimmy Keating's 14 tackles (three for loss), 1 1/2 sacks and one pass breakup, ended the marathon game with an interception, sending the Pirate players and fans into a frenzy.

With the game tied at 17 heading into overtime, the Pirates took the ball first and ended the drive with a 2-yard leap into the end zone by Holley, putting Coast ahead, 24-17.

The Dons responded with an 11-yard TD pass from Jordan Thomas to Julius Macharia, tying the game at 24 with a successful PAT.

In the second OT, the Pirates' defense forced the Dons backwards, but field goal kicker Chase Lansford came through with a 50-yard field goal to give SAC a 27-24 advantage.

OCC had a chace to win the game, but this time, it was the Dons' defense who held their ground. Coast kicker Lucas Vandeman split the uprights from 37-yards out to send the game into a third overtime, tied at 27.

Four plays later, Holley fought off several tackles and found the end zone from 7-yards out to give Coast a 33-27 lead after a missed 2-point try.

Following a 7-yard run by Santa Ana's Jaron Hytche, the Pirates' defense flexed their muscles. Following an incomplete pass by Thomas, Travis Sanford plowed through the line and stopped Hytche for a 4-yard loss, forcing a 4th-and-7. On the play, Thomas' pass was deflected up front, the intercepted by Keating to end the game.

The Pirates will have a week off, then return to action on Saturday, Oct. 24 at Grossmont, beginning at 1 p.m. Coast's next home game will be on Saturday, Oct. 31 against Saddleback, beginning at 6 p.m.